Process and apparatus for quenching without distorting rotation-symmetrical work pieces heated to hardening temperature

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a process and apparatus for quenching rotation-symmetrical work pieces having a projecting rim portion such as a flange, without distorting them. This is achieved by supporting the work piece by groups of rollers engaging said rim portion and possibly also the adjoining zone of the arched part and creating a relative movement between the work piece and the rollers while splashing a quenching liquid onto the work piece.

[22] Filed:

United States Patent 1 91 Werner PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR QUENClllNGWITHOUT DISTORTING ROTATION-SYMMETRICAL WORK PIECES HEATED TO HARDENINGTEMPERATURE [75] inventor: Hans Werner, Linz, Austria [73] Assignee:Vereinigte Osterreichische Eisenunti Stahlwerke Aktiengesellsehaft,Linz, Austria Nov. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 199,937

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 30, 1970 Austria A [0746/70521. U.s. Cl 266/6 PC, 148/131, 148/153, 266/6 s 511 1111.01 c2111 1/6258 Field of Search 148/131, 145, 146,

148/153; 266/48, 6 R, 6 PC, 6 S

1111 3,749,384 1451 July 31, 1973 [56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,524,578 ili925 Sandberg [48/146 Primary Examiner-Gerald A.Dost Attorney-Kurt Kelman [57] ABSTRACT.

The invention relates to a process and apparatus for quenchingrotation-symmetrical work pieces having a projecting rim portion such asa flange, without distorting them. This is achieved by supporting thework piece by groups of rollers engaging said rim portion and possiblyalso the adjoining zone of the arched part and creating a relativemovement between the work piece and the rollers while splashing aquenching liquid ontothe work piece.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PMENIED sum 1 or 3 FIG.

PAIENIEmma 1 ma sum 3 0r 3 PIC-3.3

:3 @l@ |@1@ @E m J PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR QUENCHING WITHOUTDISTORTING ROTATION-SYMMETRICAL WORK PIECES HEATED TO I-IARDENINGTEMPERATURE The invention relates to a process for quenching withoutdistorting rotation-symmetrical work pieces heated to hardeningtemperature, said work pieces comprising a free margin or flange, inparticular boiler floors and similar arched sheet press parts or castparts, by means of a quenching liquid, preferably water; and to anapparatus for carrying out the process.

So far, rotation-symmetrical work pieces, such as boiler floors and thelike, which, compared to their diameter, have a relatively small wallthickness, are directly immersed in a basin tilled with a quenchingliquid discernable they have been taken out of a hardening furnace. Inthis mode of quenching the boiler floors are more or less distorted,which fact becomes apparent primarily in a change of the diameter in thearea of the projecting rim or flange. This distortion is caused by anon-uniform cooling over the wall thickness and if the work piece ismade of alloyed steel by the structure tranformation taking place duringthe rapid cooling of the steel. The distortion discrenable at thequenched work piece may, however, have originated prior to hardeningduring other processing methods, e.g. from tensions being relievedduring heating in the hardening furnace, which stresses originate duringpressing and subsequent cooling of the work piece. It may also happenthat a distortion occurs while the work piece is being transported fromthe hardening furnace to the quenching means. Depending on the degreeand kind of the distortion the work pieces have to be subsequentlytreated and/or have to be cast to the wastes. So far, it has not beenpossible to quench boiler floors and similar rotation symmetricalthin-walled sheet press parts or cast parts without distortion.

The invention is aimed at creating a process for quenchingrotation-symmetrical work pieces without distorting them, using aquenching liquid, preferably water; this aim is achieved in that, whilethe work piece is quenched by splashing the quenching liquid on it, atleast the margin or flange of the work piece is supported orstraightened, respectively, by adjustable rollers arranged around thecircumference of the work piece, a relative movement being effectedbetween the work piece and the rollers.

The relative movement is preferably effected by rotating the work piecearound its axis of symmetry.

Apart from the free margin or flange of the work piece, also theadjoining'annular zone of the arched partof the work piece, e. g. theboiler floor, may be supported.

The rollers may be adjusted or tightened, respectively, by overcoming aconstant counter pressure, e.g. against the action of a spring.

An apparatus for carrying out the process according to the invention ischaracterized by a group of rollers arranged stationarily around anaxis, whose horizontal rotation axes converge in a stellate manner tosaid axis in order to form a support for the work piece, and by afurther group of rollers arranged like a'wreath around said axis andbeing displaceable in relation thereto, i.e. adjustable against themargin or flange of the work piece and by means for splashing thequenching liquid onto the work piece.

A further group of rollers arranged like a wreath around the axis andadjustable in relation thereto for supporting the annular zone of thearched part of the work piece adjacent to the free margin or flange maybe provided.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the stationaryrollers are mounted to be rotatable in an inner and in an outersupporting ring and connected at their converging ends to a bevel wheeland all bevel wheels are in engagement with a spur wheel arrangedcentrally in the apparatus and having a vertical rotation axis, one ofthe rollers being drivable by a motor.

The rollers adjustable in relation to the axis are suitably mounted incarriages guided on roller tracks, each carriage being provided with atleast one roller having a vertical rotation axis and with at least oneroller having a slanting rotation axis, said roller with slantingrotation axis being resiliently mounted in a support which isdisplaceable on the carriage frame.

For a uniform displacement of the carriages in radial direction of theaxis suitably an adjustment means is provided in the middle of the innersupporting ring, said means comprising a hydraulic cylinder and a pistonextensible in downward direction with a plateshaped body fixed thereto,connecting rods articulated to the carriage frame of the individualcarriages being linked to said plate-shaped body.

Between the inner supporting ring and the outer supporting ring and onthe displaceable carriages suitably splashing water containers andsplashing tubes with nozzles are arranged which are connected to anannular conduit for the supply of the quenching liquid, the splashingtubes'arranged on each carriage being preferably slewable around ahorizontal axis.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood details thereofshall now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawingsshowing an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a ground planof the apparatus in simplified representation. v

FIG. 2 is a radial sectional view of one half of the apparatus alongline [1-11 in FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 2. i a gIn FIG. 1 numeral 1 denotes twelve stationarily mounted driven rollerswhose horizontal rotation axes are arranged in stellate fashion. Therollers l are mounted in supporting rings 2, 3 assembled from segments.The vertical axis of symmetry 4 of the apparatus passes through the starpoint in which the rotation axes of the rollers l intersect. One of therollers 1 is, driven by a motor 5. The rollers 1 are connected at theirconverging ends to a bevel wheel 6 each. The bevel wheels 6 are inengagement with a spur wheel 7 which is arranged centrally within thesupporting ring 3 and is rotatable around the vertical axis 4; thus itwill suffice when only one of the rollers l is driven to move all otherrollers. The supporting rings 2, 3 are connected by roller tracks 8; oneach-pair of roller tracks a carriage 9 is displaceable in horizontaldirection along one roller 1. In the illustrated embodiment the numberof roller track pairs corresponds to the number of horizontal rollers 1;However, in order to keep the drawing clear, only a single carriage 9 isshown in FIG. 1. On each carriage 9 two rollers 10 are arranged whichare rotatable around a vertical axis and not driven; their outlines areshown in FIG. 1 and the vertical rotation axes lie on a circular pathhaving its center in the axis 4 (see also FIG. 2). Numeral ll denotes afurther roller which is resiliently mounted on each carriage 9 to berotatable around an axis slanting to the horizontal line and which isnot driven. Each carriage 9 is provided with two splashing tubes 12which are slewable around a horizontal axis 30; the tubes are joined toa water container 13 (FIG. 2). By means of a hose 14 the water container13 is connected with the annular conduit 15 for the supply of quenchingliquid (of water). Numeral l6 denotes the connections for the hoses 14leading to the individual carriages 9. In the vertical axis of symmetry4 a displacement means 17 which is adapted to be hydraulically operatedis arranged for a uniform displacement of the carriages 9; the structureof this displacement means and how it functions will be explained ingreater detail with reference to FIG. 2. Numeral 18, FIG. 1, denoteshorizontally arranged, stationary splashing tubes which are mountedbetween the rollers 1 and joined to the annular conduit 15. Numeral 19denotes the upwardly directed nozzles for the outflow of the quenchingliquid (water).

In FIG. 2, K denotes a boiler floor which according to the steel qualityhas been taken at a temperature of 800 to l,lC from a bogie type kiln orchamber furnace (not shown in the drawing) and supported on the rollersl. The floor center M coincides with the vertical axis 4; on this axislie the point of intersection of the axes of the rollers l and thecenter of the circular path on which the rotation axes of the rollersare arranged. The rollers 10 are brought in abutment on the flange R ofthe boiler floor by actuating the adjustment means 17. The adjustmentmeans 17 comprises a hydraulic cylinder 20 which is fixed by means of aplate 21 and ribs 22 to the supporting ring 3, and a piston 23 which isdisplaceable within the cylinder; the supporting ring 3 is, in turn,mounted on a foundation, not shown in the drawing. At the lower end ofthe piston 23 a'plate-shaped body 24 is fixed. To this body 12connection rods 25 are linked, each of which, in turn, is articulatelyconnected via a holding means 26 with a carriage frame 27 of thecarriages 9. Each carriage frame 27 is displaceable by means of wheels28 on the roller tracks 8 in direction of the double arrow shown in FIG.2. When the displacement means 17 is actuated, all carriages 9 areuniformly displaced along the roller tracks 8. Numeral 29 denotes anopening in the carriage frame 27 which is penetrated by a roller 1 (FIG.3). The upper part of the carriage frame 27 contains a support 31 onwhich the roller 11 is mounted to be resilient or limitedly yielding;the means for resilient mounting are not shown. The support 31 isadjustable by means of a threaded spindle 32 in vertical direction sothat the roller 11 may be tightened to or elastically pressed againstany shape of boiler floors, i.e. to the annular zone adjacent to theflange R. Numeral 33 denotes a splashing water container connected tothe supporting body 3, which container is connected to the annularconduit by a conduit not shown. The boiler floor K is uniformly quenchedon its inner side by the water issuing from the nozzles 19 of thesplashing water container 33 and of the stationary splashing tubes 18and simultaneously at its outer side by the water issuing from thenozzles 19 of the slewable splashing tubes 12.

The manner in which the apparatus functions may be derived from thedrawing: When the boiler floor K lies on the rollers l, and the rollers10, 11 are in engagement with the flange R and the annular zone of theboiler floor adjacent thereto, respectively, the motor 5 is started fordriving all rollers I so that the boiler floor K rotates around thevertical axis 4. At the same time quenching of the boiler floor K isstarted by the supply of water which issues from the nozzles 19 of thestationary splashing tubes 18, of the water container 33, and of theadjustable splashing tubes 12. The position of the rollers 10 may beread from an indicator not shown, which is mechanically and electricallyconnected to the adjustment means 17 or to the carriages 9,respectively, and on a dial or an indicator tape directly indicates theouter diameter of the flange R to which the rollers 10 are adjusted. Bymeans of this indicator it is possible to correct the diameter of theboiler floor K during quenching by displacing the rollers 10; therollers 10 may, if desired, also be used for effecting a certain shapingwork to which end they may also be driven. The rollers 11 are providedso as to prevent the flange R from evading in upward direction becauseof the lateral pressure exerted by the rollers 10; the rollers 11 may beadjusted in height by the threaded spindle being actuated. Owing totheir resilientmounting enabling them to yield to a degree, the pressureexerted by them cannot lead to an undesired deformation of the boilerfloors.

The apparatus may also comprise further rollers or roller groupsadjustable to one or several annular zones of the boiler floors K; forexample, it is possible to provide supporting rollers for supportingboiler floors having a particularly small wall thickness which areadjust- .able to the inner side of the floors; such rollers may likewisebe mounted on the carriages 9. Further, a central supporting roller maybe provided which acts from within in the area of the boiler floorcenter M; such roller may be displaceable by means of a hydrauliclifting cylinder in direction of the axis 4, so that the arch (archdepth) of the boiler floor K'is changeable to some limited extent, thelifting cylinder may be mounted above the displacement means 17 andpenetrate the splashing water container 33. Finally, it is possible toreverse the whole described building principle; in that case, the boilerfloor K would be stationary and the rollers 10, 11 would rotate aroundit i.e. around the axis 4; the most important feature is the relativemove ment between the boiler floor and the rollers.

The apparatus may be reset without undue expenditure so as to be usedfor rotation-symmetrical work pieces of different shapes (arch curves)and different outer diameters. Obviously, the rollers l l and theslewable splashing means 12 may simultaneously be adjusted or moved,respectively, by .telecontrolled shifting elements, so that a fullymechanised, automated operation is possible. Further a time relay may beprovided (not shown in the drawing) which may be timed to the desiredquenching period, so that the water supply is automatically started andended.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for distortion-free quenching rotationsymmetrical workpieces having a projecting rim portion and heated to hardeningtemperature, comprising a group. of rollers arranged stationarily aroundan axis and having horizontal rotation axes converging in stellatemanner to said axis so as to form a support for the work piece, at leastone further group of rollers arranged like a wreath around said axis andbeing displaceable in relation to said axis and adjustable against saidrim portion, and means for splashing quenching liquid onto said workpiece.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein an additional group ofrollers is provided arrranged like a wreath around said axis andadjustable'in relation to said axis for supporting an annular zone of anarched part of said work piece adjacent to said rim portion.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the stationarily arrangedrollers are each mounted to be rotatable in an inner and in an outersupporting ring and connected at their converging ends to a bevel wheel,and all bevel wheels are in engagement with a spur wheel arrangedcentrally in the apparatus and having a vertical rotation axis, one ofsaid rollers being drivable by a motor.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said rollers adjustablein relation to said axis are mounted in carriages guided on rollertracks, each carriage being provided with at least one roller with avertical rotation axis and with at least one roller with a slantingrotation axis, said roller with slanting rotation axis being resilientlymounted in a support which is displaceable on a frame of said carriage.

5. The apparatus set forthin claim 1, wherein said stationarily'arranged rollers are mounted in inner and outer supporting rings andsaid rollers adjustable in relation to said axis are mounted oncarriages guided on roller tracks extending between said rings, anadjustment means being provided in the middle of the inner supportingring for a uniform displacement of said carriages in radial direction ofsaid axis, said adjustment means comprising a hydraulic cylinder and apiston extensible in downward direction, with a plate-shaped body fixedthereto, connecting rods articulated to a frame of each of saidcarriages being linked to said plate-shaped body.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said staionarily arrangedrollers are mounted in inner and outer supportingrings and said rollersadjustable in relation to said axis are mounted on carriages guided onroller tracks extending between said rings, splashing water containersand splashing tubes with nozzles being arranged between said innersupporting ring and said outer supporting ring and on said displaceablecarriages and connected to an annular conduit for the supply of thequenching liquid.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said rollers adjustablein relation to said axis are mounted on radially movable carriagesprovided with splashing tubes slewable around a horizontal axis for acontrolled angle of impingement of said splashing liquid on said workpiece.

t i t i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. 3,749,384- Dated July 31. 1973 Inventor (s) Hans Werner It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 16, change "discernable" to ---after-;

line 24, change "discrenable" to discernable--.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of April 197A.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I LFLETCHEmJ'R. C. MARSHALL DANN I Attesting Officer 7Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u.s. sovznnmzur rnm'rme orlcz: ma o-aes-au, I

,- nm. Ian-1050 (10-69)

1. Apparatus for distortion-free quenching rotation-symmetrical workpieces having a projecting rim portion and heated to hardeningtemperature, comprising a group of rollers arranged stationarily aroundan axis and having horizontal rotation axes converging in stellatemanner to said axis so as to form a support for the work piece, at leastone further group of rollers arranged like a wreath around said axis andbeing displaceable in relation to said axis and adjustable against saidrim portion, and means for splashing quenching liquid onto said workpiece.
 2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein an additionalgroup of rollers is provided arrranged like a wreath around said axisand adjustable in relation to said axis for supporting an annular zoneof an arched part of said work piece adjacent to said rim portion. 3.The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the stationarily arrangedrollers are each mounted to be rotatable in an inner and in an outersupporting ring and connected at their converging ends to a bevel wheel,and all bevel wheels are in engagement with a spur wheel arrangedcentrally in the apparatus and having a vertical rotation axis, one ofsaid rollers being drivable by a motor.
 4. The apparatus set forth inclaim 1, wherein said rollers adjustable in relation to said axis aremounted in carriages guided on roller tracks, each carriage beingprovided with at least one roller with a vertical rotation axis and withat least one roller with a slanting rotation axis, sAid roller withslanting rotation axis being resiliently mounted in a support which isdisplaceable on a frame of said carriage.
 5. The apparatus set forth inclaim 1, wherein said stationarily arranged rollers are mounted in innerand outer supporting rings and said rollers adjustable in relation tosaid axis are mounted on carriages guided on roller tracks extendingbetween said rings, an adjustment means being provided in the middle ofthe inner supporting ring for a uniform displacement of said carriagesin radial direction of said axis, said adjustment means comprising ahydraulic cylinder and a piston extensible in downward direction, with aplate-shaped body fixed thereto, connecting rods articulated to a frameof each of said carriages being linked to said plate-shaped body.
 6. Theapparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said staionarily arrangedrollers are mounted in inner and outer supporting rings and said rollersadjustable in relation to said axis are mounted on carriages guided onroller tracks extending between said rings, splashing water containersand splashing tubes with nozzles being arranged between said innersupporting ring and said outer supporting ring and on said displaceablecarriages and connected to an annular conduit for the supply of thequenching liquid.
 7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein saidrollers adjustable in relation to said axis are mounted on radiallymovable carriages provided with splashing tubes slewable around ahorizontal axis for a controlled angle of impingement of said splashingliquid on said work piece.